Former mayor of Chittagong City Corporation ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury filed a case with the Election Tribunal here yesterday against newly elected Mayor M Manjur Alam and six other mayoral candidates in the June 17 CCC polls.

A copy of a recent Supreme Court judgment reveals that no-one could challenge in the High Court any case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission on disputed facts that earlier led 540 graft cases to be stayed by the HC.

The LGRD and cooperatives minister in parliament yesterday lambasted civil bureaucrats for their "contemptuous attitudes" towards public representatives saying they are still accustomed to customs of military rule, not democratic practice.

The country's only hydro-powered plant in Kaptai with a capacity of producing 230 megawatts (MW) of electricity is now generating only 96 MW as only two of its units out of five are currently in operation.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has urged the government to extend full cooperation to Manjur Alam in running the affairs of Chittagong City Corporation as the new mayor without taking into account his political affiliation.

The government has decided to accord honour to distinguished foreign nationals and organisations from the Independence Day next year for their extraordinary contribution in the War of Independence in 1971.

Mystery shrouds the arrest of Pradip Marak, an alleged Bangladeshi aide to detained Ulfa leader Ranjan Chowdhury, as Pradip's family members yesterday claimed that unidentified law enforcers picked him up in April from city's Ashkona.

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court (HC) challenging the appointments of two HC judges to the posts of the chairman and a member of International Crimes Tribunal set up for trying the crimes against humanity.

The National Executive Committee of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) will hold its maiden meeting on July 31 at Diploma Engineers' Institution auditorium in the city with party chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair

In a climbdown, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has denied saying that his Indian counterpart SM Krishna was getting directions from New Delhi during their talks here, and his indication was to a member of the Indian delegation. He also said he would visit India, but not for a 'leisure trip'.

A shutdown called by separatists and restrictions imposed by authorities paralysed life in Srinagar yesterday, just a day after a semblance of normalcy was restored after days of strikes and curfew. North Kashmir's Baramulla town, meanwhile, was tense after a boy allegedly drowned there after being chased by security forces.

Editorial

THE tragic death of a trader in Bangshal raises some very important questions. Sabed Hasan, former president of Bangladesh Motorcycle Parts Merchants Association, died on Friday after falling from the first floor of his home while trying to evade arrest by the police. It is here that the story gets murky and raises once again questions about the role of the police in the difficulties citizens have lately run into. With reports of individuals dying in police custody recently making the rounds, it makes sense to ask why the police in Bangshal were trying to arrest Sabed Hasan at 1 a.m. Indeed, that there was a noticeable keenness among the police to nab the trader is made manifest by the fact that soon after a case was filed against him by the present president of the traders' association, the police went looking for him.

EVIDENTLY the local industry, particularly the light engineering, electrical and light electronics, is facing heavy odds, particularly in terms of uneven tax structure. And that is what is stunting its growth in Bangladesh. The plight of these industries was amply exposed at a roundtable on light engineering, electrical and electronic industries in Bangladesh held recently in Dhaka, organised by The Daily Star and the BUET Alumni Association, which came up with some very substantive suggestions in this regard.

Sports

Titans Mohammedan Sporting Club consolidated their lead in the Green Delta Insurance Premier Division Hockey League with a convincing 4-2 win over Mariner Youngs Club in a Super League encounter at the Maulana Bhasani Hockey Stadium yesterday.

Bangladesh take on Scotland today in a one-off one-day international at Glasgow. The Tigers are on their last leg of their United Kingdom tour where they have already completed two series against England and Ireland respectively.

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed that Manchester United have 'great concern' over midfielder Owen Hargreaves' latest injury setback, amid fears he will never fully recover from a career-threatening knee problem.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has hinted that a Test Championship might be conducted in 2013 in England to revive fans' interest in the five-day format which is struggling due to the growing popularity of Twenty20s.

When Shahid Afridi was asked after the Lord's Test what he thought of Marcus North's bowling, he screwed up his face, looked away and tried not to laugh. As compliments go, it could have been more convincing. North doesn't care. He described it as one of the highlights of his career to help Australia win a Test and earn a place on the bowling honour board at Lord's, alongside his batting colleague Shane Watson.

The government will soon streamline the existing rules on setting up liaison offices by foreign investors and issuing work visas to the foreigners in a bid to attract more expertise and investment, said officials.

APEX WEAVINGThe company's Board of Directors has decided to hold an EGM on August 3 (at 11am) at its factory premises in Gazipur. The meeting will discuss the lay-off of the factory, probable date of reopening and the future planning of the company regarding its operation in compliance of the SEC's directive dated July 4. The shareholders whose names will appear in the register of members of the company at the close of business on July 27 will be entitled to attend the EGM.

The development priorities of the government are in the right direction but all will depend on how much resources are available and what percentage of the annual development programme (ADP) is implemented, a leading chamber said yesterday.

Boeing Co's new 787 Dreamliner touched down in Britain on Sunday on its first trip outside the United States, thrilling hordes of eager planespotters who came out to see the breakthrough carbon-composite plane.

A drop in consumer confidence in Europe amid worries about the region's debt crisis is holding back a recovery in global consumer sentiment and weighing on the broader economic outlook, a survey showed on Sunday.

Some 49,000 police personnel, including 12 police supers (SPs) and 10 additional SPs, were punished during the last three years and five months in a bid to uphold the image and discipline of the force.

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed August 18 for hearing on a petition seeking a court order to bring back Tk 19.7 crore that Arafat Rahman Koko, Khaleda Zia's younger son, had allegedly siphoned off to Singapore.

Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain said China and Asian Development Bank expressed keenness to provide assistance for construction of railway lines from Dohajari in Chittagong to Gundum in Myanmar.

Speakers at a roundtable called upon the government to ban the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student front Islami Chhatra Shibir to stop the politics of 'communalism and fundamentalism yesterday.

Afghanistan will bring together representatives of more than 70 partner countries, international and regional organisations and financial institutions in Kabul tomorrow to deliberate and endorse an Afghan government-led plan for improving development, governance, and stability.

High Commission of India yesterday announced introduction of online submission of visa applications for nationals of all countries applying for visa with Indian Visa Application Centres (IVACs) in the city, says après release.

The five youths from capital Dhaka, who were arrested at Tajpur village of Panchbibi upazila in Joypurhat district on July 13 on 'suspicion' of involvement with banned Islamist militant organisation Jama'atul Mujahideen of Bangladesh (JMB), will be produced before a chief judicial magistrate's court today.

At least 5.5 lakh patients, mostly indigenous are receiving treatment, medicine and health services a year at 75 clinics run by United Nations Development Project (UNDP) in 20 upazilas of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will arrive here on Friday on a day-long visit. The prime minister will disburse cheques of Tk 76 crore among the Aila victims of Dakop and Koyra upazilas. District administration sources said Tk 54.80 crore will be disbursed among 24,400 families in Koyra upazila while Tk 21.20 crore among 10,600 families in Dakop upazila. This will be her first visit here after assuming power.

A woman allegedly committed suicide by setting herself ablaze following a quarrel with her daughter in Kadamrasul area of Sadar upazila on Friday night. The deceased was identified as Maya Begum, 40, wife of expatriate Monir Hossain of the area. Police quoting locals said a quarrel ensued between Maya Begum and her married daughter Farzana over a trifling matter. At one stage Farzana insulted her mother and later went to her husband's house. Shocked at the misbehaviour of her daughter, Maya Begum set herself on fire pouring kerosene on her person. Neighbours rushed her to Bandar upazila health complex where the attending doctor declared her dead.

A former teacher of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (Kuet) was crushed under the wheels of a train in city's Daulatpur rail station on Saturday night. The deceased was identified as M Nazrul Islam, 60, former assistant professor of electrical and electronics engineering department and a resident of Daulatpur area. Witnesses said the Shariatpur-bound train hit him at the station when he was crossing the rail track on his way home, leaving him dead on the spot. The body was sent to Khulna Medical College and Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police arrested two men along with 30 fake notes of Tk 500 denomination from in front of a grocery store at Baniakhali village in Dumuria upazila on Saturday night. The arrestees were identified as Shahidul Sheikh, 28, and Matiur Rahman, 38, of the area. Sources said the two men came to the shop at about 10:00pm and after purchasing some commodities they gave the grocer a Tk 500 note. Being doubtful about the note he informed the patrol police. Later, the law enforcers searched their bodies and recovered the fake notes. A case was filed in this connection.

Letters

Veteran actor Bulbul Ahmed has left us forever. It is shocking news for all cinema lovers of Bangladesh. This death would definitely create a huge vacuum in the cultural arena of our country. He possessed a unique personality. He was a perfect gentleman.

The win against England during the second ODI was indeed a great achievement and finally came after a long time. I believe our new wicketkeeper did a wonderful job behind the stumps and should be made a full time wicketkeeper. This will enable Mushfiqur Rahim to concentrate entirely on his batting. Md. Ashraful is not making any contribution to his team and should be dropped permanently. He seems to have forgotten how to play cricket. I also urge the Bangladesh cricket team to be hungrier for winning and not let the opposition just walk all over them. This is exactly what they did during the third ODI and it was not pleasant to watch. I feel that they should always fight till the end. The umpires also made some wrong decisions and ought to be scrutinized. I urge them to take a little time to analyse their decisions before lifting their finger. I would like to also urge Shakib Al-Hassan and Abdur Razzak to bowl as straight as possible. If the ball strays to the leg side, then it becomes very easy for the batsman to hit the ball hard. On the whole, I feel it is time the Tigers stopped being minnows or underdogs.

Having lost all the matches in Asia Cup by huge margins, many of us back home thought Bangladesh would face a tougher challenge against England in their home ground. After losing the first one-dayer, the Tigers bounced back in the second match winning it by 5 runs, thanks mainly to their spinners and an all round display by captain Mashrafe Mortaza. With that victory, the Tigers now had the great feeling of winning against all the Test playing nations in the limited version of the game.

Kuakata is gradually attracting an increased number of tourists. It's a spectacular beach where one can have a sight of both the rising and setting sun. I have the experience of visiting Patong and Rawai beaches in Thailand. I found Kuakata not less attractive than those beaches. This is also a place from where tourists can visit the Sundarbans world's largest mangrove forests. Some private tour operators are already offering tour programmes.

Recently, the HSC results were published across the country with more than 1.5 percent increase in percentage of passing compared to the previous year. However, many of them have come out with outstanding success scoring GPA-5. But the shocking news for those students is that all of them cannot get admission in good universities.

Sylhet division is known for natural beauty. There are opportunities to focus on its beauty. These natural sceneries attract Bangladeshi people as well as foreigners. It is a matter of regret that such places lost their appeal due to lack of proper care.

It was a very worthwhile initiative taken by a class ten student, Krishna Jaldas, living in a fishing village in Mirersarai, where there are no primary schools within a few miles of the village! He has opened a school for teaching basic literacy in the yard in front of his hut!

I completed my BBA from North South University. After completing my graduation, I decided to apply to some well-reputed UK universities for my masters. Upon applying, I've got a few unconditional offers as well as CAS to study Masters in well-reputed UK universities (For instance: Essex University, Coventry University, University of Hull). Most of the courses will commence in the last week of September.

AL leaders are speaking their minds. One of them disowned Chattra League's wanton barbarism all over the country. Another frank and blunt leader expressed the whole truth that instead of wasting energy through infighting, the Chhatra League should take on the opposition which, he hinted, will greatly complement the government's repressive action against the people. Actually, the AL wants a Bangladesh where everybody will support whatever they do.

I have gone through the above captioned letter written by Dr. Shameem of New DHS, Dhaka on 14 July. I agree with him that it is an opportunity for the BNP to bring their 'Rising Sun of the East' out clean by winning the legal battle. Not only this money laundering case which the CTG started against him, there are many more stories and gossips against Tarique which need to be cleared from the public knowledge. The BNP reportedly believe that Mr. Tarique Zia is a talented future leader of Bangladesh who will be able to lead his country in the right direction.

Issues like rape, sexual abuse of boys and girls, STD/AIDS, abortions, etc., need to be addressed urgently. For this, it is important to make our children aware of what sex is. They have to get proper information on it. A curriculum that will not offend the sensibilities of Bangladeshis should include the scientific, social, and religious aspects of sex. Not all parents can discuss sex openly with their children. The school environment is ideal. Moreover, notwithstanding the recent study on child abuse, I believe that the solution for it does not lie in sex education. It lies in imparting moral values and handing out severe punishment to the perpetrators of crimes against children. Sex education will not help in preventing perversion. What is actually needed is the revival of moral science as a compulsory subject from class X. Lessons on good habits, duties of the individual to the family, society and the country and so on can be included in the syllabus. It is only by strengthening the moral values and character of individuals that a society can be saved from human predators. So, let us concentrate on educating the adults.

The approval by France's lower house of parliament to ban Islamic veil shows once again what a bunch of hypocrites these “liberated” people are. Justice Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said it was a victory for democracy and freedom against all the oppressions. Oh really? Ms Marie's comments would make more sense if they were made in Afghanistan against the Talibans. These comments are totally inappropriate for women who are living in France which is a fully independent, democratic, nuclear-capable, UN veto-holding, freedom-loving and peace-loving country!

Believe it or not. One can go to Dhaka from Uttara with only Tk 6 as travelling cost and comparatively within a short time. This was absurd to me till I travelled from Airport Railway Station to Kamalapur station by rail on 13 July at a cost of Tk 6 only.

Currently, (probably for a year or so), the Kuwait government is not issuing any work permit or visa to any Bangladeshi national in any category. It is worthwhile to mention that the bilateral relation between Kuwait and Bangladesh was always good since the independence of Bangladesh in 1971. As far as I know, Bangladesh imports most of its petroleum from Kuwait. On the other hand, thousands of Bangladeshi nationals are working in Kuwait at the moment. Most of them are workers and labourers. They are playing a great role in the GDP of Kuwait. During the Gulf War back in late 80's and early 90's, Bangladeshi workers played a big role in the reconstruction of Kuwait. At that time all other foreign workers, except Bangladeshis escaped due to the war.

Bangladesh is the 8th largest country in the world in population where 150 million people are virtually elbowing each other in a land that is 134,000 sq km in area with a population density of more than 1100 people per sq km. Overpopulated! During independence in 1971, the population of Bangladesh was about 75 million. After 39 years, its population is more than doubled. The current estimate of population growth in the country is 1.75% a year. This means that the population of Bangladesh will double in the next 40 years. In spite of such an ominous situation, idealists may be quick to point out that Bangladesh is making improvements in education and healthcare, and most importantly has achieved a respectable economic growth rate of about 5 per cent a year in recent decades. Though true, such progress has had a very little impact on the overall poverty level in the country. Studies reveal that in real terms the poverty level in Bangladesh has not come down but gone up. The main reason for this incongruity is the rapid growth of the country's underprivileged population, whose unemployment rate remains extremely high for illiteracy. Since the poor uneducated people have no steady income, they customarily want more children as security and support in old age. They are also apt to get married early and produce children that they can't educate or even support. However, the great irony is that the children born in such a situation tend to breed more of the same year after year. This is precisely what's happening in Bangladesh right now. The stark reality is that such a growth in population will not only put the future of Bangladesh in serious danger, it will indubitably have a profound impact on the rest of the world as well.

International

The Israeli and Palestinian leaders met with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak separately yesterday, after Mubarak conferred with the US Middle East envoy on a push for direct talks between the two men.

A suicide bomber slipped through the Afghan capital's tight security ring yesterday, killing three civilians near a busy market two days ahead of an international conference hosting representatives from about 60 nations, officials said.

At a state project to refurbish a decaying building in Old Havana, one worker paints a wall white while two others watch. A fourth sleeps in a wheelbarrow positioned in a sliver of shade nearby and two more smoke and chat on the curb.

Arts & Entertainment

The first phase of Chhayanaut's yearlong programme commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore ended on July 17. Held at the National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the two-day programme featured songs, recitation, dance, short sketches and lectures.

Sigmar Polke was one of the illustrious painters on the contemporary German art scene. He passed away on June 10, 2010. Polke was an artist whose work defies easy descriptions. He was one of the most significant painters of the post-World War II generation. With his demise, Germans lost a great painter.

One of the leading artistes of the country, Sabina Yasmin, was honoured by Citibank N.A. at Utshab Hall of Radisson Water Garden Hotel on July 17. As part of the 'Gaan-e Gaan-e Gunijon Shongbordhona' programme, Sabina Yasmin was greeted with a standing ovation at the event. A legion of A-list artistes paid homage to Yasmin with special performances and moving words on her contribution to Bangladeshi music.

“Inception,” the science fiction thriller by writer-director Christopher Nolan that easily qualifies as the most highly anticipated movie of the summer, opens with a dramatic shot of huge waves breaking onto a nameless shore. And that image suggests the best way to watch a film with such a tightly coiled plot, cerebral conceits and formidable ambition. Rather than trying to game out “Inception” on first viewing, it's best to let it wash over you, and save the head-scratching and inevitable Talmudic interpretations for later.

Tamalika Karmakar is known in the cultural arena as an actress of substance. As a child artiste, her talents won her a major recognition through Notun Kuri Award. She won a National Film Award as well. Though at present she is not doing films, the actress is actively involved in theatre. Tamalika is also seen on TV but she is very selective about the serials/plays she takes up.

Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts organised a press conference on the occasion of a solo sculpture exhibition titled “Sylvan Forms” of Ferdousi Priyobhashini on July 18 at the Bengal's café. The exhibition begins today at the Bengal Gallery in Dhanmondi and will continue till July 28.

The Goethe-Institut Bangladesh has organised a slide presentation and discussion, “The Sorcerers’ Sources, Sigmar Polke and his magic laboratory” today at 6.30 pm. Dr. Justin Jonas, curator of the Academy of Fine Arts Of Johannes-Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany, will conduct the presentation, says a press release. Dr. Jonas will give an insight into the striking works of the recently deceased Polke and the artist’s most important and well-known works since the early 1960s. The venue: Auditorium at Goethe-Institut Bangladesh, House 10, Road 9 (new), Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka.

OP-ED

AFTER the death of Babul Gazi, the owner of a CNG-fuelled auto-rickshaw, while in police custody, along with the death of two other persons, Mujibur Rahman and Mizanur Rahman, under similar circumstances, the High Court ordered the government to explain why it should not punish the policemen involved in those deaths. In the same ruling, the HC also asked the officers-in-charge, sub-inspectors and assistant sub-inspectors, of the Gulshan and Darussalam police to appear before the court on July 19 (today) to explain how the victims had died.

THE protest wave that gripped the Kashmir Valley has abated with the calling in of the army -- for the first time for crowd control since the azaadi movement erupted in 1989. But public anger against the killing of 15 young Kashmiris, including a 9-year-old boy, won't vanish soon.